Loan Celtic player named in report as bookies ask SFA to investigate suspicious betting patterns in Premiership match

The SFA have been asked by bookmakers to investigate suspicious betting patterns during Saturday’s match between Dundee and Hearts which the Edinburgh side won 1-0.

Jamie Walker scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute but according to a report in the Daily Mail it was the bookings of four Dundee players that has raised ‘serious concerns’ with bookies.

Any individual match offers hundreds of betting opportunities from yellow and red card options through to free-kicks and corners.

Betting patterns will all be fairly regular with any surge towards particular bets easy to identify.

The Daily Mail reports:

Bookmakers have asked the SFA to look into suspicious betting patterns flagged up during last Saturday’s Premiership clash between Dundee and Hearts at Dens Park.

Third-placed Hearts won the game 1-0 thanks to a late strike from Jamie Walker. And Sportsmail understands several gambling firms have now raised serious concerns over a number of bets placed on yellow cards for Dundee players.

Dens first-team stars Max Anderson, Leigh Griffiths, Paul McGowan and Danny Mullen were all booked by referee Willie Collum.

Leading bookies have agreements with the SFA to exchange any intelligence on irregular betting patterns surrounding Scottish football.

And suspicions over the sums staked on bookings at Dens Park have now been referred to the SFA Security and Integrity unit.

Should any evidence of insider betting be uncovered, the matter will be handed over to the SFA’s compliance officer to consider disciplinary proceedings and a Notice of Complaint.

Bookmakers have yet to rule out a complaint to Police Scotland or potential criminal action.

The SFA’s task force is chaired by Security and Integrity officer Martin Stolarek, who tackles any issues relating to match fixing and is tasked with increasing awareness and education amongst clubs, players, coaches and officials.

Dundee were last night asked for comment, while Hearts said they were unaware of the investigation.

The report doesn’t indicate whether the alarm was raised before or after the match or whether it was online bets or whether they were staked in shops.

Dundee had players booked in the 47th, 54th, 58th and 85th minutes with Walker booked in the 59th minute alongside team-mate John Soutar in the 80th minute.

Bookmakers have the right to withhold paying out on any bet they have concerns with, until recently the three main Scottish competitions were sponsored by Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfred.

Griffiths moved on loan to Dundee on the final day of the transfer window and could be back at Celtic next month. So far he has started eight matches, came on as a sub five times, scored one goal and been booked twice with the other yellow card coming at Ibrox earlier this month.

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